Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for attaching connective tissues to bone using a knotless suture anchoring device

US7083638B2 · kind B2 · utility

532Cited by
49References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 12, 2001
Grant dateAug 1, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 23, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2002/0888
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone, which permit a suture attachment that lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface. Advantageously, the suturing material between the soft tissue and the bone anchor is secured without the need for tying a knot. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a length of suture around a pulley within the bone anchor, tightening the suture and attached soft tissue, and compressing the suture against the bone anchor. The bone anchor may be a tubular body having a lumen with a locking plug that compresses the suture therein. The pulley may be a pin located near a distal end of the tubular body around which the length of suture is looped. Alternatively, a pulley may be a bridge portion of the tubular body between two spaced apertures in the wall of the body. The locking plug may include a shaft and an enlarged head that interferes with the tubular body to provide a positive stop. An actuation rod attached at a frangible section to the shaft may be manipulated by an external handle during locking of the suture within the bone anchor. The bone anchor further may include locking s…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.